Landscaping - July 22, 2022

Last Friday, the board of directors and I walked through the community with the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement (DPIE). Our goal was to assess the progress of items listed on the punch list (e.g., pond excavation, landscaping, streetlights, and street signs).

During the walkthrough, we learned that DPIE would conduct its ‘landscaping audit’ towards the end of the fall season. This is because items such as grass can only be aerated and re-seeded during this time of the year. Unfortunately, this means the board of directors, nor we can do anything to improve the appearance or curb appeal within the community at this time.

Once DPIE conducts its landscaping audit to ensure it meets the standards required for the county to release the bond, the board of directors and we will be able to implement any improvements throughout the community that meets the standards of homeowners in the community. Until then, the management company will work with the board of directors to assess the landscaping in the community and strategize on the improvements it would like to implement once we are able.

We recently learned that Sean F. Bruce Development instructed Blythewood to complete its foliage installation throughout the community, including removing dead trees and adding new trees where they were initially planned. We suspect that the new trees being installed might not have been fully planted in the community at the time due to unfavorable planting conditions (e.g., the winter).

I have requested that DPIE send the landscaping project plans to determine where Sean F. Bruce Development and Blythewood will plant trees within the community. As soon as we receive the plans, I will upload them to the TOPS portal, in addition to e-mailing them to all homeowners so you are aware of the location of the new trees.

Blythewood stated that Gator bags would be added to the planted trees, and the crew would fill each. Blythewood will be on site for the remainder of the week to complete this phase of the development. We plan to meet with Blythewood next week when the owner returns to learn more about how we can ensure the health of the foliage being planted.

We recognize that many areas are an eyesore, and we will do all we can to improve the curb appeal and ensure the landscaping meets homeowners’ approval. In Section IX of the Architectural Covenants Procedures and Guidelines:
General Maintenance Guidelines
“Maintenance affects the visual character and economic values of the property and neighborhood, and in some cases, safety. Property ownership includes the responsibility for maintenance of all structures and grounds that are a part of the property. This includes, but is not limited to items such as mowing grass, removal of trash, and structural maintenance.”

Mowing
“Planted beds must be kept in a neat and orderly manner. Watering lawns and maintaining plant beds are the responsibility of the individual homeowner.”

We ask homeowners to please do their part to maintain the exterior of their homes and water their lawns in the early hours of the morning or the evening after sundown. We’re currently experiencing a heatwave and its important to water lawns every day for 15 minutes or every two to three days for 30 minutes.

We thank you for your patience while Capital Court enters its final phases of completion. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn new information. If you have any questions, feel free to contact PVM at 301-390-4090 or send an e-mail to: customerservice@pvmgt.com for assistance during regular office hours.